In a 12-minute interview recorded in Hong Kong, Snowden reveals his motives for leaking the secrets to the press and even more about what goes on inside the NSA.

From The Guardian:

In a note accompanying the first set of documents he provided, he wrote: "I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions," but "I will be satisfied if the federation of secret law, unequal pardon and irresistible executive powers that rule the world that I love are revealed even for an instant."

"The NSA and the intelligence community in general is focused on getting intelligence wherever it can by any means possible. It believes on the grounds of self-certification that they serve the national interest."

"Any analyst at any time can target anyone ... I sitting at my desk certainly have the authorities to wiretap anyone — from you or your accountant, to a federal judge, to even the President."

"This is something that is not our place to decide, the public needs to decide whether these programs and policies are right or wrong, and I'm willing to go on the record to defend the authenticity of them."

"Even if you're not doing anything wrong, you're being watched and recorded ... you don't have to have done anything wrong, you simply have to eventually fall under suspicion from somebody — even by a wrong call - and then they can use the system to go back in time and scrutinize every decision you've ever made."

Snowden pushed back against any accusation that he wished harm upon the United States, telling Greenwald he had access to the "full roster of everyone working at the NSA" and the entire intelligence community, including undercover assets around the world. He went on to say he could have shut down the system "in an afternoon," but that was not his intention.

"The greatest fear that I have regarding the outcome for America of these disclosures is that nothing will change," Snowden said. "People will see in the media all of these disclosures, they'll know the lengths the government is going to grant themselves power unilaterally to create greater control over American society and global society, but they won't be willing to take the risks necessary to stand up and fight to change things to force their representatives to actually take a stand in their interests."